Increase Family Involvement Research Articles

The effect of family empowerment on hemoglobin levels in pregnant women

Empowering families can enhance their ability to detect high-risk pregnancies early, which can improve the health status of pregnant women. This study aimed to analyze the effect of the family empowerment model on the hemoglobin levels of pregnant women. It employed a quasi-experimental method with a cross-sectional study approach, implementing a family empowerment intervention to examine its impact on the health of pregnant women. Sampling was conducted using probability sampling with simple random sampling, resulting in 60 pregnant women divided equally into an intervention group and a control group. The independent variable was the family empowerment model intervention, and the dependent variable was the hemoglobin level of the pregnant women. Data were collected using a questionnaire and analyzed with the Wilcoxon test statistic, which indicated a significant effect (p=0.000) of the family empowerment model on the hemoglobin levels of pregnant women. The statistical analysis revealed that the intervention group’s hemoglobin levels showed a significant difference (p<0.05) before and after the intervention. In summary, the treatment involving the family empowerment model significantly affected the hemoglobin levels in pregnant women. After the intervention, nearly all respondents demonstrated increased family involvement in maintaining and caring for pregnant women, facilitating the early detection of high-risk pregnancies, and contributing to increased hemoglobin levels among these women.

Family involvement in management and risk-taking of family firms: The moderating role of kinship composition

Corporate risk-taking is a crucial factor that influences firm growth, performance, and survival. Based on the socioemotional wealth and agency theories, we investigate the effect of family involvement in management on risk-taking by considering the moderating role of kinship composition. Using data on Chinese listed family firms, we find that increased family involvement in management significantly reduces family firms’ risk-taking level. The richness of family managers’ kinship weakens the negative effect of family involvement in management on the risk-taking level. Our study enriches the socioemotional wealth and agency theories, by introducing insights of the differential order mode perspective, and demonstrates the significance of kinship ties of family managers on family firms’ risk-taking strategies.

Provider perceptions of systems-level barriers and facilitators to utilizing family-based treatment approaches in adolescent and young adult opioid use disorder treatment

BackgroundAmidst increasing opioid-related fatalities in adolescents and young adults (AYA), there is an urgent need to enhance the quality and availability of developmentally appropriate, evidence-based treatments for opioid use disorder (OUD) and improve youth engagement in treatment. Involving families in treatment planning and therapy augments medication-based OUD treatment for AYA by increasing treatment engagement and retention. Yet, uptake of family-involved treatment for OUD remains low. This study examined systems-level barriers and facilitators to integrating families in AYA OUD treatment in Rhode Island.MethodsAn online survey was administered to clinic leaders and direct care providers who work with AYA in programs that provide medication and psychosocial treatments for OUD. The survey assessed attitudes towards and experiences with family-based treatment, barriers and facilitators to family-based treatment utilization, as well as other available treatment services for AYA and family members. Findings were summarized using descriptive statistics.ResultsA total of 104 respondents from 14 distinct treatment programs completed the survey. Most identified as White (72.5%), female (72.7%), and between 25 and 44 years of age (59.4%). Over half (54.1%) of respondents reported no experience with family based treatment and limited current opportunities to involve families. Barriers perceived as most impactful to adopting family-based treatment were related to limited available resources (i.e. for staff training, program expansion) and lack of prioritization of family-based treatment in staff productivity requirements. Barriers perceived as least impactful were respondent beliefs and attitudes about family-based treatment (e.g., perception of the evidence strength and quality of family-based treatment, interest in implementing family-based treatment) as well as leadership support of family-based treatment approaches. Respondents identified several other gaps in availability of comprehensive treatment services, especially for adolescents (e.g. services that increase social recovery capital).ConclusionsFamily-based treatment opportunities for AYA with OUD in Rhode Island are limited. Affordable and accessible training programs are needed to increase provider familiarity and competency with family-based treatment. Implementation of programming to increase family involvement in treatment (i.e. psychoeducational and skills-based groups for family members) rather than adopting a family-based treatment model may be a more feasible step to better meet the needs of AYA with OUD.Trial registration: not applicable.

Impact of staffing shortage on patient safety sitters.

Patient safety sitters play a crucial role in observing patients at risk for self-harm or harm to others. This article explores the impact of staffing shortages on patient safety sitters, discussing a review of 163 patient safety events. The findings underscore the need for adequate staffing levels and propose solutions, including alternative measures like tele-sitters and increased family involvement, to mitigate the challenges posed by these shortages and improve overall patient safety and care quality.

How do professionals working in the field of dementia care define quality of nursing home care and how do they believe warm technology contributes to this?

AbstractBackgroundWarm technology (WT) aims to improve quality of life of people living with dementia by supporting and enhancing human potential, social connectedness, dignity and self‐reliance. However, how care researchers and dementia care professionals think about the relationship between WT and quality of care (QOC) in nursing homes (NHs) is unknown. Also, there is a lack of international consensus on the definition of QOC in NHs. The goal of this project was to explore how care researchers and dementia care professionals define the concept QOC in NHs and how they believe WT contributes to this. The Tovertafel, a research based technology that activates nursing home residents with dementia by projecting interactive games on a surface, served as an example for WT in this study.MethodSemi‐structured (online) interviews were held in England, Ireland, Canada, United States of America and the Netherlands with 9 researchers and 11 care managers, 6 activity coordinators and 3 specialized nurses working in dementia care units of NHs. All care professionals had access to a Tovertafel. The interview guide was based on three existing multidimensional quality of nursing home care frameworks. To analyze the interviews, a thematic analysis was employed by means of open, axial, and selective coding using ATLAS.Ti.ResultsMost research and care professionals made a clear distinction between the clinical domains of QOC (e.g. providing effective and safe care) and the social domains of QOC (e.g. building relationships, trust, and providing person centered care) in NHs. According to the interviewees, the Tovertafel contributes to several social domains of QOC by: 1. supporting care professionals in the provision of person centered care and gaining trust from residents, 2. improving work pleasure of dementia care professionals, 3. creating a safe, pleasant and homelike environment, 4. increasing family involvement, and 5. increasing (non‐verbal) communication. The interviewees reported fewer and more indirect effects on the clinical domains of QOC in NHs. The results were comparable between countries.ConclusionWarm technology, such as the Tovertafel, seems to have a positive effect on QOC in NHs, primarily by having a positive impact on several social QOC domains.

Teenagers’ Well-Being through Family Leisure Activities

The rise in mental health issues and suicide rates among adolescents in Indonesia emphasizes the significance of prioritizing adolescent mental health. One key contributor to mental health issues and suicide among adolescents is the family unit. The psychological well-being of adolescents is linked to the dynamics of dual-earner families. The study seeks the correlation between family engagement in leisure activities and adolescents' psychological well-being from dual-income households in Indonesia. The research method employed is correlational. The study cohort comprises 173 adolescents from dual-income households selected through accidental sampling. Family Leisure Activity Profile (FLAP) and Ryff's Psychological Well-being Scale (RPWBS) measured family participation in leisure activities and subsequent psychological well-being. The results of the Spearman-rank correlation test revealed a significant positive association between family engagement in leisure activities and psychological well-being dimensions such as autonomy, environmental mastery, positive relationships with others, purpose in life, and self-acceptance (rs= 0.237-0.294, p< 0.01). The results also showed no correlation between family involvement in leisure activities and personal growth (rs= 0.880, p= 0.295). Therefore, increased family involvement in leisure time corresponds to enhanced psychological well-being for adolescents in dual-earner families. Parents who work should organize routine activities and leisure time with their teenagers, which promote self-expression, values transfer, and improved family members’ psychological well-being.

School Health Services Utilisation Among Secondary School Students in Ibadan, Oyo State

This study assesses the utilisation of school health services in Ibadan North-West Local Government Area, Oyo State, Nigeria, with implications for primary healthcare among school children and the prevention of early-life preventable diseases. The research objectives include determining the level of school health service utilisation among secondary students in public and private schools, investigating barriers affecting utilisation, and examining the association between school type and service utilisation. A descriptive cross-sectional research design was employed, sampling 300 students aged 10-19 from a population of 37,396 in Ibadan North-West Local Government Area. The study utilized a multi-stage sampling procedure and a self-structured questionnaire with sections on socio-demographic characteristics, utilisation assessment, and barriers. The instrument's validity was established through content and face validity procedures. Results indicate a higher utilisation of school health services in private schools compared to public schools, highlighting a deficit in human and material resources for qualitative school health programs. Weak collaboration between the health and education sectors was detected, contributing to suboptimal standards and dissatisfaction among beneficiaries. Factors such as logistical challenges and changing living areas were identified as potential contributors to poor health program implementation. Recommendations include intensified efforts by school management boards to ensure service utilisation, the creation and maintenance of healthy school environments, and increased family involvement in school health service policies.

Impact of turning points and transitions on work and family orientations: insights from collegiate coaches

ABSTRACT Research Question The purpose of this study was to: (1) identify the kinds of transitions and turning points college coaches experience (particularly normative vs non-normative), (2) examine how various transitions and turning points in individual lives influence work orientations, and (3) examine how work orientations, transitions, and turning points impact individual work and life outcomes. Research Methods This study utilized in depth interviews with 30 head college coaches from the United States. The sample consisted of 12 women and 18 men who were 35 years or older and had several years’ experience coaching. Results and Findings Expected and unexpected transitions came from a variety of situations. Coaches discussed coping strategies for managing expected transitions, and the challenges of unexpected transitions, which at times also became turning points that changed work orientations. Several coaches adopted a stronger calling work orientation, while others became more job oriented, however none of the coaches became more career oriented. Also, turning points influenced coaches’ level of family engagement, often increasing family involvement. None of the coaches reported reducing family involvement following a life turning point. Implications These findings help sport administrators to understand the importance of being in tune with their coaches and realizing the influence of life transitions and turning points. These findings also provide needed theoretical insight and understanding about coaches’ lived experiences of transitions and turning points, and their impacts on orientations toward work and family.

Recommendations for culturally safe clinical kidney care for First Nations Australians: a guideline summary.

First Nations Australians display remarkable strength and resilience despite the intergenerational impacts of ongoing colonisation. The continuing disadvantage is evident in the higher incidence, prevalence, morbidity and mortality of chronic kidney disease (CKD) among First Nations Australians. Nationwide community consultation (Kidney Health Australia, Yarning Kidneys, and Lowitja Institute, Catching Some Air) identified priority issues for guideline development. These guidelines uniquely prioritised the knowledge of the community, alongside relevant evidence using an adapted GRADE Evidence to Decision framework to develop specific recommendations for the management of CKD among First Nations Australians. These guidelines explicitly state that health systems have to measure, monitor and evaluate institutional racism and link it to cultural safety training, as well as increase community and family involvement in clinical care and equitable transport and accommodation. The guidelines recommend earlier CKD screening criteria (age ≥ 18 years) and referral to specialists services with earlier criteria of kidney function (eg, estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR], ≤ 45 mL/min/1.73 m2 , and a sustained decrease in eGFR, > 10 mL/min/1.73 m2 per year) compared with the general population. Our recommendations prioritise health care service delivery changes to address institutional racism and ensure meaningful cultural safety training. Earlier detection of CKD and referral to nephrologists for First Nations Australians has been recommended to ensure timely implementation to preserve kidney function given the excess burden of disease. Finally, the importance of community with the recognition of involvement in all aspects and stages of treatment together with increased access to care on Country, particularly in rural and remote locations, including dialysis services.

Experiences of a virtual day program for adolescents with eating disorders: a qualitative analysis of benefits and barriers

BackgroundThroughout the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a detrimental impact to the symptoms and treatment of eating disorders, causing an increase in medical admissions and visits. Day treatment programs (DTPs), often used to bridge the gap between inpatient and outpatient treatment, were converted to online formats. This study aims to explore the impact of the transition to virtual DTPs on eating disorder treatment from the perspective of adolescents, their caregivers, and program staff.MethodsTwelve participants (3 adolescents, 4 caregivers, 5 healthcare providers) in a virtual day treatment program were interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide. Interviews were transcribed and managed with qualitative software NVivo 11.0. Conventional analysis was used to inductively identify pertinent themes related to patient, caregiver, and healthcare staff perceptions and experiences of the virtual day treatment. Summative content analysis provided counts of the barriers and benefits of virtual day treatment as identified by participants.ResultsThe majority of participants (10/12) had exposure to both virtual and in person settings, most participants (11/12) felt in-person day programs would be superior to virtual programs. Common limitations of the virtual format were feelings of isolation, less support from healthcare providers, parental burnout, and increased disordered eating. Common benefits were increased accessibility, parental involvement, improved communication with healthcare staff, and the ability for participants to be in their home environment and eat home food. Suggestions for improvement included designing a hybrid model of day treatment, increased family involvement, extending the day program to include dinners with family, and screening for patient appropriateness for the virtual setting.ConclusionThis qualitative study suggests that there are many barriers to effective implementation of virtual day programs. However, the virtual DTP program offers increased accessibility to patients during a period of a health pandemic and to patients in rural/remote areas with limited treatment options. Suggestions provided by participants in this study, such as increased family involvement, frequency of in person check-ins and increased number of meals supported by the program, may help to improve outcomes in virtual day treatment programs.

Parenting style and family empowerment for children's growth and development: a systematic review

Child growth and development is a major public health problem worldwide. About 10.6% of children under five experience a delay in growth and development. Achieving the maximum growth potential of children is influenced by several factors, namely: parental care, environmental support in caregivers, family, community, and social, economic, political, and cultural factors. The success of children’s growth and development are influenced by environmental factors, ranging from the family environment to the community. To summarize, parenting styles and family empowerment are used in children’s growth and development. Four databases (i.e., PubMed, Science Direct, EBSCO, and Springer) were used from 2015-2022. Articles that meet the inclusion and exclusion criteria were then subjected to a critical appraisal 25 articles were identified in this systematic review. Several studies identify parenting dimensions and styles through a data analytic approach to measure parenting with particular emphasis on parent-centered approaches. Other studies have shown that intervention models that can be given in family empowerment are emotional support, increased family involvement, family normalization, and family empowerment. To achieve the results of appropriate parenting styles and family empowerment in improving the ability of families, assessing, influencing, and managing situations with family resources in the growth and development of children. Parenting style and family empowerment that focuses on the growth and development of children to be carried children’s growth and development should be carried out empowerment in the growth and development of children; it is necessary to develop parenting styles and family empowerment by the current situation and conditions.

The influence of board social activity on firm performance

This study investigates the relationship between board social activity (i.e., frequency of board meetings) and firm performance in publicly traded family and non-family firms, focusing on the moderating effects of family involvement (i.e., family ownership and at least one family member on the board of directors). Our investigation is based on a database of 172 family and non-family firms listed on the Italian Stock Exchange over a 10-year period (1098 observations). The results indicate a curvilinear (inverted U-shaped) relationship between board meeting frequency and firm accounting performance. Moreover, family involvement positively moderates this curvilinear relationship, leading to an optimal level of board meetings, which is higher in firms with increasing family involvement than in other firms. Applying behavioral governance theory, we contribute to explain how boards of directors influence firm performance through the board context (i.e., family involvement) and arrangements (i.e., frequency of board meetings/social interactions), providing evidence for family firm heterogeneity.

Does Gender Moderate The Association Of Dimensional Peer Pressure On Alcohol Use During Emerging Adulthood? A Multi-Group Analysis

Peer pressure and alcohol use in tertiary institutions seems to remain a challenge amongst emerging adults. The study examined the moderating influence of gender on the association between dimensional peer pressure and alcohol consumption. A non-probability convenient sampling technique was employed. The sample consisted of 414 participants who were students recruited from 6 faculties. Data was collected using Peer Pressure Inventory (PPI) and Alcohol Use Dependence Identification Test (AUDIT) in an online platform. Data was analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences Version 25 (SPSS-25). Structural equation modelling was used to test assumptions. The was no gender difference in terms of the relationship between peer conformity and misconduct on alcohol use. Results indicated an increased family involvement whichpredicted lower alcohol consumption among females but not in males. School and peer involvements were not related to alcohol use in both gender. Family involvement against peer influence on the use of alcohol, may be a protective factor in females but not in males. Males were more likely to conform to peer pressure than females. 
 Key words: Peer pressure; Family involvement; Alcohol use; Gender; Moderation

DECREASING PAIN, ANXIETY, AND CONFUSION IN TERMINALLY ILL VETERANS

Abstract Terminally ill patients often receive medications for pain and anxiety that result in sedation that may inhibit communication with their loved ones. Balancing comfort while maintaining meaningful communications is a common dilemma for patients, staff, and families. Many patients report confusion and a decreased ability to communicate with families and health care providers, resulting in fear, anger, and frustration. Additionally, family members (25 to 33%) also feel frustrated and angry not being able to communicate with their loved ones needs and wishes. Delirium, a distressing syndrome characterized by disturbed consciousness, reduced ability to focus attention, altered cognition is experienced by 62–88% of terminally ill patients. Unfortunately, it is often underdiagnosed and undertreated. While not all delirium can be prevented it is estimated that 50% of terminal delirium may be ameliorated. This project was designed to proactively identify terminally ill veteran preferences for nonpharmacological interventions to reduce pain, anxiety, and prevent delirium. In the sample of Veterans from an inpatient VAMC Hospice (n=31) the mean age was 79.46 (sd=10.69); 60.7% were Black and 39.3% were white; 60.9% had cancer and 27.6% had heart failure. The most common patient delirium related behaviors were verbal agitation, physical agitations, physical aggression, anxiety, and confusion. Veterans identified the following comfort priorities: decreased noise (82.6%) and lighting (82.6%), warm blankets (78.3%), music (65.2%), emotional support (73.9%), increased family involvement (43.5%) and (20.8%) going outdoors. Preventative individualized nonpharmacological interventions decreased disruptive delirium related behaviors over 95% of the time and should be incorporated into routine hospice care.

677: ADOLESCENT PARTICIPATION IN FAMILY-CENTERED ROUNDS

Introduction: Family-Centered Rounds (FCRs) are inpatient, multidisciplinary rounds involving parents’ perspectives in medical decision making with the most perceived benefit being increased family involvement in patient care. To our knowledge, there is very limited literature evaluating the role of adolescent patients during FCRs. Our study aimed to assess adolescent involvement during FCRs. Methods: This is a pilot study of adolescent patients, 12-18 years, admitted to our pediatric hospital. Patients who did not/could not provide consent or assent were excluded. Patient involvement was assessed via a 12-item questionnaire on a 5-point Likert Scale (always, almost always, sometimes, rarely, and never). Responses were collected using REDCap. Data is presented as percentages and proportions. Results: There were 34 eligible adolescent patients of which 31 (91%) were included in the study; 50% male, 44% female, 6% non-binary/other; 50% aged 12-14yrs, and 50% 15-18yrs; 50% were admitted to PICU/IMC and 50% to general floor. Length of stay was median 2 (range 1-8) days. Of the 31 adolescents, 67% participated in FCRs almost always/always. Hospital staff started FCRs on 71% of adolescents without asking them if they wanted to participate; only 29% were asked. Seventy three percent of adolescent patients understood what was being discussed almost always/always; and 77% felt participating in FCRs was helpful to understand their care. Although 65% adolescents felt comfortable asking questions, 35% did not. Of the adolescents that did ask questions, 79% felt their questions were answered; 79% never felt FCRs made them nervous/scared. Of the 31 adolescents, 91% would recommend other adolescent patients to participate in FCRs. Conclusions: Given that FCRs are a mainstay of pediatric patient care, the participation of adolescent patients during FCRs should be encouraged. Although parents and caregivers often fear that participating in FCRs may cause fear and anxiety in adolescent patients, we did not find that in our study. Instead, it can help adolescents understand the care they are receiving, provides a forum to ask questions, and allows them to take an active role in their care.

Parent, child, and environmental predictors of vegetable consumption in Italian, Polish, and British preschoolers.

This study compared the vegetable intake of preschool children from three European countries [Italy, Poland, and the United Kingdom (UK)] and explored the parent, child, and environmental factors that predicted intake in each country. A total of 408 parents of preschoolers (Italy: N = 61, Poland: N = 124, and UK: N = 225; child mean age = 32.2 months, SD = 9.47) completed an online survey comprising a set of standardised questionnaires. For all three countries, the questionnaires included measures of children's vegetable intake (VegFFQ), child eating behaviour (CEBQ-FF), parents' mealtime goals (FMGs), and sociodemographic questions about family background and environment. In the UK and Italy, additional questionnaires were used to assess child temperament (EAS-T) and parents' feeding practices (CFPQ). The results showed that the number of child-sized portions of vegetables consumed per day varied significantly across countries; Polish children consumed the most (∼3 portions) and Italian children the least (∼1.5 portions). Between-country differences were seen in parents' goals for family mealtimes; compared to Italian parents, Polish and UK parents were more motivated to minimise mealtime stress, increase family involvement in meal preparation, and share the same foods with family members. British and Italian parents also adopted different feeding practices; parents in the UK reported more use of healthy modelling behaviours and more use of foods to support their child's emotion regulation. In terms of child factors, Italian children were reported to be more emotional and more sociable than British children. Analyses of the relationships between the parent, child, and environmental factors and children's vegetable intake revealed both similarities and differences between countries. Negative predictors of vegetable intake included child food fussiness in the UK and Poland, child temperament (especially, shyness) in Italy, and the use of food as a reward and child emotionality in the UK. Positive predictors included the parental mealtime goal of 'family involvement' in the UK. These results highlight differences in the extent to which European preschoolers achieve recommended levels of vegetable intake, and in the factors that influence whether they do. The results suggest a need to develop healthy eating interventions that are adopted to meet the specific needs of the countries in which they are implemented.

PELAYANAN KESEHATAN PADA LANSIA DENGAN HIPERTENSI DI TINGKAT PELAYANAN PRIMER: SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Patients with hypertension continue to increase in line with the increase in life expectancy. Hypertension is very dangerous because it can cause heart attack, stroke, kidney failure and even death. Therefore, health services for the elderly with hypertension need serious attention from primary health care providers. Based on these facts, a systematic review was carried out with the aim of providing an overview of the implementation of health services for the elderly with hypertension at the primary service level. The method used is a systematic literature review (systematic review) of various research results sourced from electronic data. Literature searches were conducted online using the ScienceDirect, Scopus, Pubmed, ProQuest, Clinicalkey, and Google Scholar databases. The keywords used in the search for reference sources are “management hypertension”, “elderly”, and “primary care” and are limited to 2016 to 2021. The results of this systematic review reveal that health services at the primary care level have used various approaches such as increasing family involvement, using SMS, telemonitoring, cellular phone-based self-management, and direct family visits in the form of the PIS-PK Perkesmas program. The approach method aims to improve the compliance of elderly patients with hypertension in carrying out pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapy. The conclusion is that primary care must continue to be developed in line with advances in information technology without compromising direct service to patients and improving the quality of primary health care providers.

The effectiveness of family empowerment model on early detection ability of risk pregnancy during the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction: Many pregnant women and their families are lack to carry out the examination to detect earlier about high-risk pregnancies. Family empowerment models can improve the ability of families to early detection of pregnancy during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to analyze the effectiveness of the family empowerment model on the ability to detect early pregnancy at risk during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This study used an explanatory survey with a cross-sectional study approach and interventions of the family empowerment model on early detection ability of risk pregnancy. Sampling using the Probability sampling method with simple random sampling, a sample size of 100. Independent variables are interventions of the family empowerment model, while dependent variables of early detection ability of risk pregnancy during the covid-19 pandemic. Data collection instrument using questionnaires. The research data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) based on variance or SEM-based components, known as Partial Least Squares (PLS). Results: The influence of personal factors, resource factors, cognitive behavioral factors, interpersonal factors, filial values, and commitments showed t-statistics > 1.96 and p-values <0.05. This means that there is a significant effect on all of these variables on family empowerment. The resulting coefficient is positive 0.080 so it can be said that better family empowerment tends to increase the ability of families in early detect high-risk pregnancies. That means there is a family empowerment model that makes participants feel more responsive, and alert, pay attention to self-care, and immediately check with health workers if there are danger signs. Conclusion: After being given the family empowerment model intervention almost all respondents were good in the ability to detect early pregnancy at risk during the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to increasing family involvement in intensive care for pregnant women to prevent pregnancy complications.

Family Involvement in PTSD Treatment: Perspectives from a Nationwide Sample of Veterans Health Administration Clinicians.

Social support is bidirectionally linked to symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Evidence suggests that family involvement in veterans’ mental health treatment is desired by both veterans and family members, and that such involvement has the potential to improve treatment outcomes. However, rates of family involvement are low in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). We sought to understand VHA clinicians’ perspectives on family involvement in PTSD treatment by conducting qualitative interviews with 31 providers at 10 VHA facilities across the U.S. The i-PARIHS framework was used to guide the interviews and analysis, and several major themes were identified. All clinicians reported that they at least occasionally offered family-inclusive sessions, and they frequently referenced both the influence of family behaviors or attitudes on veterans’ functioning, and also how veterans’ symptoms could cause tremendous disruption in the family. Clinicians’ past experience with supervised family- or couple-based work strongly influenced their current comfort with family-inclusive sessions. Multiple potential avenues exist to support increased family involvement in PTSD treatment in VHA.

Family Involvement in the Routine Care of Hospitalized Preterm or Low Birth Weight Infants: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Preterm and low birth weight (LBW) infants are often separated from parents during hospitalization. Our objective was to assess effects of interventions to increase family involvement in the routine newborn care of preterm or LBW infants compared with standard NICU care on infant and parental outcomes. Data sources include Medline, Embase, CINAHL, and World Health Organization Global Index Medicus to August 2021. The study selection included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of family involvement intervention packages. Data were extracted and pooled with random-effects models. We included 15 RCTs with 5240 participants. All interventions included direct parental bedside care; packages varied with respect to additional components. Family involvement interventions decreased retinopathy of prematurity (odds ratio 0.52, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.34, 0.80; 8 RCTs), length of hospital stay (mean difference [MD] -2.91 days; 95% CI: -5.15,-0.82; 11 RCTs), and parental stress and anxiety (Parental Stress Scale: MD -0.29 points, 95% CI: -0.56,-0.01, 2 RCTs; Anxiety State-Trait scale: MD -1.79, 95% CI: -3.11,-0.48; 2 RCTs). Family involvement increased weight gain velocity (MD 2.09 g/day; 95% CI: 1.27, 2.91; 3 RCTs), neurobehavioral exam scores (MD: 1.11; 95% CI: 0.21, 2.01; 2 RCTs) and predominant or exclusive breastmilk intake (odds ratio 1.34; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.65; 3 RCTs). It may decrease rates of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, infection, and intraventricular hemorrhage. There were no effects on mortality or necrotizing enterocolitis. Certainty of evidence ranged from low to moderate. Family involvement has a beneficial role on several infant and parental outcomes.